Deep friction generator



y 4, 1956 R. ORTHWINE 2,755,798

DEEP FRICTION GENERATOR Filed March 2, -1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l E 3nventorAz/004F ORTHW/ME wflmttomeg July 24, 1956 R. ORTHWINE DEEP FRICTIONGENERATOR Filed March 2, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 70 3twentor 0000 Olen WW5y 4, 1956 R. ORTHWINE I 2,755,798

DEEP FRICTION GENERATOR Filed March 2, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Snventor,QUOOLF QerflW/ms United States Patent DEEP FRICTION GENERATOR RudolfOrthwine, New York, N. Y.

Application March 2, 1954, Serial No. 413,495

Claims. (Cl. 128-152) This invention relates to a massage apparatus andmore particularly to a machine for applying deep friction massage to anypart of the human body and for facilitating such application toalleviate suffering from arthritic and rheumatic pains.

Utility of the device which embodies the invention relies on theaccepted theory that the heat and static electricity generated byheavily rubbing the body surface over the afiiicted area will penetrateto the area and at least partially relieve the condition. The massagingmust be accompanied by considerable pressure to afford the best resultsand therefore manual devices are not practical. This invention providesa weighted massager which is easily positioned with reference to thegeneral massaging area and adjusted for direction and length ofmassaging stroke at the particular location.

There is also provided a novel type of massaging unit for impartingreciprocal movement to a rubbing pad preferably of wool fabrication todevelop static electricity and heat. According to a modifiedconstruction, means are provided for adjusting the length of thereciprocating stroke.

In general the invention contemplates the provision of carriage meanssupported by a framework for longitudinal positioning of the massagingunit in the horizontal plane and a second carriage for transverselypositioning in the same plane. The plane of the massage stroke isadjustable out of the horizontal plane by means of a ball and socketconnection between the second carriage and the massaging unit. Thesecond carriage has an attachment member for the ball and socket jointwhich is pivotally connected to the elements directly carried by thefirst carriage for positioning the unit in the vertical plane. Theweight of the unit is counterbalanced by a spring connected between thetwo sections of the second carriage. The tension of the spring ispreferably adjustable- The two sections of the second carriage arepreferably attached pivotally by parallel link connections so thatchange of vertical position will not disturb the desired disposition ofthe massaging unit in the other planes.

The means adopted for reciprocating the massaging pad is a motor poweredunit which provides compact and efficient mechanism for convertingrotary to reduced translatory motion the reciprocating stroke of whichcan be made adjustable.

Therefore an object of the invention is. to provide a weighted andeasily maneuverable massager for applying deep friction massage toafflicted areas of the body.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a massager havinguniversal movement and adjustable weight counterbalancing means to varythe. normal pressure re sulting from its weight,

A further object of the invention is to provide an efhcient massag ngunit having means for applying. reciprocating padpressure to any part ofthe body.

Other. objects will appear. on, reading the following description inconjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

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Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing the massaging unit and the universalsuspension means in balanced conditlon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing the massaging unit, the ball andsocket joint and connections with the second carriage;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section partially in elevation showing a modifiedconstruction of the massaging unit;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showingmeans for adjusting the reciprocating stroke of the massaging padtandFig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing themeans in the second carriage for adjusting the tension on the weightcounterbalancing springs.

As shown in Fig. 1 the suspension means for the massaging unit aresupported by a four legged frame 8 having tracks in the form of channels9 longitudinally disposed thereof. The channels are U-shaped and faceinwardly. A carriage 10 comprising a four sided frame having coasters 11adapted to ride in the channels 9 is disposed within the frame beingmovably supported thereby. Three pairs of complementary ears, 12 and 12a13 and 13a, and 14 and 14a, depend from the intermediate portion of theunderside of the carriage 10. The outer cars 12, 12a and 14, Ma supporttransversely disposed guide rods 15 and 16 respectively. The guide rodsslidably support a second carriage 18 which is constructed in twosections and includes a pair of angle plates or brackets 19 and 20 and apair of vertical members 21 and 22 pivotally connected to the angleplates IQ and 26 respectively by parallel links 23 and 23a and 24 and24a.

The angle plates 19 and 20 have horizontal arms with end aperturesadapted to receive the guide rods. A threaded screw spindle 25 isrotatably supported by ears 13 and 13a in parallel with guide rods 15and 16. A threaded nut is secured to the angle plate 19 and receives thescrew spindle 25 which can be turned as by hand cranks 26 or 260exterior of the frame 8 for causing the second carriage to traverse theframe on the guide rods 15 and 16 for lateral adjustment.

The parallel connections for the two sections of the second carriage arepivotally connected to the vertical arms of the angle plates and thevertical members 21 and 22. Their function is to maintain positively theperpendicularity of the vertical members through all their pivotalpositions. The vertical members are connected by spacers 29 and 30. Abolt 31 extends through the top shaft 2a, vertical members 21 and 22,parallel links 23 and 24 and is provided with a clamping nut 32. Anydesired pivotal position of the vertical members with respect to theangle plates can thus be held if desired by clamping the connectionsagainst the vertical members by tightening the nut 32.

In the preferred construction the massaging unit 34 is supportedindirectly by the vertical members by means of a ball and socket joint35; The exposed surface of the ball 36 is connected to the massagingunit by attachment post 37. The socket joint permits the unit to bebrought into operative contact with any part. of the body, presumed tobe supported on the platform 38. Adjustment screws 39 and 39a aredisposed in the socket and adapted to impinge against the surface of theball to hold it and the unit in the desired angular. position.

Thus suspended, the massagingunit is capable of bringing deep frictionmassage to bear on any part ofthe body. Some of the weighted pressure ofthe unit-may be relieved by a tension spring 40 connected between thetwo sections of the second carriage. As shown the spring is' extendedbetween an angle plate spacer 41 which 3 serves as a pivot for the links23 and 24, and the shaft 30. The tension on the spring may be alteredfor adjustment of the massaging pressure by means of an adjustment knob41a which is threaded on spindle 41b having a key way milled therein. Akey 30b mounted in the spacer 30 permits the axial sliding of thespindle 41b in the spacer.

The massaging unit 34 comprises a main body portion 42 and two endportions 43 and 44, a motor of standard construction having a stator 45,rotor 46 on an armature shaft 47, a massaging pad 48 and means forreciprocating the pad. The left hand end of the armature shaft 47 isjournalled in bearings in the end portion 43 which supports commutatorbrushes 49 and 49a. The right hand end of the armature shaft 47 iscoaxially journalled in rotatable disc 50 an outer hub portion of whichrotates in a vertical plate 51 which is attached to the end body portion44. Intermediate the disc 56 and the rotor 46 are an air circulating fan52 and pinion 53 secured to rotate with the armature shaft 47. An outerring gear 54 is fixed to the inner surface of the end body portion 44 inthe vertical plane of the pinion gear 53. A pair of sun gears 55 and 56mesh with the pinion 53 and ring gear 54 on opposite sides of thearmature shaft. The disc 50 is attached by stub shafts to the two sungears and is caused to turn with the rotation of the sun gears. Theadvantage of the particular gearing arrangement shown is the symmetryand balance achieved at the right hand end of the armature shaft and therequired reduction in the drive ratio. A bevel gear 58 connected to theouter end of the hub is in meshing connection with reduction bevel gear59 secured to vertical shaft 60. A bevel gear 61 is connected to theopposite end of the shaft 60 and engages reduction bevel gear 62 securedto the end of shaft 63 which is journalled in bottom extension members64 and 65 of the motor housing. The shaft 63 has an enlarged cylindricalintermediate portion having right and left hand cam grooves 66. A baseplate 67 is secured to the bottom of extension 64 and a third extension68 which forms a continuation of the outer surface of the end bodyportion 44. The plate 67 has a central opening 67a and longitudinallydepending ways 69 and 6% forming a recess on the under side of the baseplate. The inner surfaces of the ways are disposed upwardly andinwardly. A guide plate 70 is slidably disposed in the recess and hasside bevelled edges which complement the inner surfaces of the ways 69and 69a which serve as a retaining track for the guide plate 76. Thebase plate has secured thereto a pad plate 72 which carries a woolenrubbing pad. A block 73 rides in the opening 67a of the base plate andis attached by a screw to the pad plate 72 and the upper surface ofguide plate 70. A cam follower 74 is secured to the block 73 and engagesthe groove 66 in the cylindrical portion of the shaft 63 and is causedto reciprocate with the turning of same.

When it is desired to alter the length of the reciprocating stroke amodified massaging unit has been conceived and is shown in Fig. 4 andFig. 5. The motor armature 47 is directed downwardly and has a pinion53, sun gears 55 and 56 engaging ring gear 54, rotating disc 50 indriving connection with the sun gears and end plate 51 in identicalarrangement as was described for the basic construction. The armatureextends through the bearing plate 51 and an eccentric 75 is secured toits protruding end. The eccentric is disposed between the two branchesof bifurcated member 76 which is pivotally attached at one end toadjustment block 77. The block 77 is movably retained between twoparallel guide elements 78 and 7?. The block is positioned between theguide elements by screw 80 which is rotatably held therein beingrotatably supported in an aperture in the base portion of body 34. Theposition of the pivot end of the bifurcated member 76 controls thedegree it will swing under the control of the eccentric 75.

Also disposed in the bifurcated member 76 near its free end is a roller82 secured to rock arm 83 by means of pin 83a. Attached to the bottomsurface of the rock arm 83 near its free end is a roller 84 whichengages a channel formed by projections 85 and 86 of guide plate 70 towhich is attached the pad plate 72 by dowel pins similar to those shownin Fig. 2. Hence the massaging pad 48 is reciprocated by the rock arm 83and the length of stroke is governed by the adjustable position of thepivot axis of the bifurcated member which rocks the arm. The pad plate72 is removably secured to the block 73 by a filister screw similar tothat shown in Fig. 2.

Thus the length of massage stroke is made adjustable as well as thelocation and plane of the stroke which is determined by the suspensionmeans above described. The arrangement for suspending the massage unitover the body also assures suflicient pad pressure which is required forsuccessful operation. This is achieved without sacrifice of mobility andfacility of use.

The disclosed embodiment is obviously susceptible to some change ormodification without departing from the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A universal support for a body massager comprising a frame supportedin elevation over a body platform, a carriage supported by andlongitudinally slidable within the frame, a second carriage supported byand transversely slidable within said first carriage and comprisingpivotal means for supporting said massager and positioning the unit inthe vertical plane.

2. A universal support for a body massager comprising a leg supportedframe having longitudinal channels extending substantially the length ofthe frame, a carriage slidably supported in the channels, a secondcarriage slidably supported on transversely disposed guide rods carriedby said first carriage, a screw spindle rotatably supported by saidfirst carriage in parallel with said guide rods and operable totransversely feed the second carriage back and forth on said guide rods,said second carriage consisting of two angle brackets having horizontalarms supported by the guide rods and vertical arms and a pair ofvertical members pivotally connected to the vertical arms of said anglebrackets for supporting the massager.

3. A universal support for a body massager comprising a leg supportedframe having longitudinal channels extending substantially the length ofthe frame, a carriage slidably supported in the channels, a secondcarriage slidably supported on transversely disposed guide rods carriedby said first carriage, a screw spindle rotatably supported by saidfirst carriage in parallel with said guide rods and operable totransversely feed the second carriage back and forth on said guide rods,said second carriage consisting of two angle brackets having horizontalarms supported by the guide rods and vertical arms, a pair of verticalmembers pivotally connected to the vertical arms of said angle bracketsand a ball and socket joint carried by said vertical members forsupporting the massager.

4. A universal support for a body massager comprising a leg supportedframe having longitudinal channels extending substantially the length ofthe frame, a carriage slidably supported in the channels, a secondcarriage slidably supported on transversely disposed guide rods carriedby said first carriage, a screw spindle rotatably supported by saidfirst carriage in parallel with said guide rods and operable totransversely feed the second carriage back and forth on said guide rods,said second carriage consisting of two angle brackets having horizontalarms supported by the guide rods and vertical arms, a pair of verticalmembers each pivotally connected to the vertical arms of said anglebrackets by parallel links so as to positively maintain a parallelrelation between the vertical arms of said angle brackets and thevertical members and a ball and socket joint having adjustable screwmeans carried by said vertical members for supporting the massager.

5. A universal support for a body massager as claimed in claim 4 whereina spring is connected to said angle brackets and said vertical membersas a counterbalance for the massager.

6. A universal support for a body massager as claimed in claim 5 whereinmeans are provided for adjusting the tension on the counterbalancespring.

7. A massage apparatus comprising a massager and a support attached toand suspending the massager therefrom, said support including means forpositioning the unit in the horizontal and vertical planes, saidmassager comprising an armature motor of standard construction, ahousing for said motor, a guide plate slidably supported by said motorbody, means for reciprocally driving said guide plate and a massage padattached to said guide plate.

8. A massage apparatus comprising a massager and a support attached toand suspending the massager therefrom, said support consisting of a legsupported frame having longitudinal channels extending substantially thelength of the frame, a carriage slidably supported in the channels, asecond carriage slidably supported on transversely disposed guide rodscarried by said first carriage, a screw spindle rotatably supported bysaid first carriage in parallel with said guide rods and operable totransversely feed the second carriage back and forth on said guide rods,said second carriage consising of two angle brackets having horizontalarms supported by the guide rods and vertical arms, a pair of verticalmembers pivotally connected to the vertical arms of said angle bracketsand a ball and socket joint carried by said vertical members forsupporting the massager, said massager comprising an armature motor ofstandard construction, a housing for said motor, a guide plate slidablysupported by said motor body, means for reciprocally driving said guideplate and a massage pad attached to said guide plate.

9. A universal support for a body massager comprising a frame supportedin elevation over a body platform, a carriage supported by andlongitudinally slidable within the frame, a second carriage constructedin two sections, one of said sections being supported by andtransversely slidable within said first carriage and the second of saidsections being pivotally connected to said first section and adapted tosupport said body massager and position the massager in the verticalplane.

10. A massage unit comprising an armature motor of standardconstruction, a housing for said motor, a bifurcated member pivotallysupported in said housing, an eccentric driven by said armature andengaging said member, a rock arm slidably connected to said bifurcatedmember, being rocked thereby, a guide plate reciprocally driven by saidrock arm and a massage pad carried by said plate, the pivotal axis ofthe bifurcated member being adjustable to and away from the eccentric soas to vary the extent of pivot of said member and hence the stroke ofthe reciprocally driven guide plate and massage pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,553,456 Metrakos Sept. 15, 1925 2,113,712 Robinson Apr. 12, 19382,307,431 Tilden et al Jan. 5, 1943 2,564,490 Marr et al. Aug. 14, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS 618,027 France Nov. 30, 1946

